It started with Derrick Jones Jr. falling down, and then it got worse. Or it got better. It depends on what you think of early celebrations that turn out to be wrong. I think they’re excellent. Leandro Barbosa seems to be a fan as well.
https://twitter.com/ESPNNBA/status/837533676367835137
This has happened before. Earlier this year, Kemba Walker gave us the immortal shimmy. It was funny, fluid move, and it was a welcome sequel to the Nick Young moment years before.
It’s the best. It’s really just the best. Years had passed since Young’s premiere, and now we not only have a sequel, we have a franchise. This offers the hope of more, and I’m addicted, so that’s good.
What’s worth noting about Barbosa’s installment is that it’s a bit of an evolution. In the case of Walker and Young, they were celebrating their own shots. They had a much better feel for the ball’s flight, and (presumably having shot a ball a few times before) probably had an empirical inclination that it would be going in.
Barbosa had no such insight. He kicked the pass out of the corner over to Jared Dudley, and Barbosa’s arms went up before the shot even left Dudley’s hands.
To be fair to Barbosa, Dudley has been one of the best shooters in the NBA above the break this year. Just check out this very red shot chart from stats.nba.com
Red is good. The area that Dudley shot from is very red. If you’re going to choose someone to celebrate, he’s a good choice.
This is also nice because the premature celebration wasn’t for himself. Barbosa is a team player, and Dudley is a good teammate. There’s a connection here. Hopefully this continues for a while. It’s a shame they’re both 48 years old.
Is there a lesson to be learned from this? Not really. Basketball is still fun despite injuries, and weak trade deadlines, and the existence of the Knicks. It’s important to find your joy, so here. Watch it again.
https://twitter.com/ESPNNBA/status/837533676367835137
Good.
Add us as a preferred source on Google